Method For Producing A Multifilament Composite Thread And Melt Spinning Device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for the production of strand-shaped products such as synthetic bands, fiber strands, monofilaments, or films, which are extruded from a polymer melt. The device comprises an extrusion device, a cooling device, several rolling feed units and several processing devices mounted between the rolling feed units. In order to obtain short control paths and compact machine units, the processing devices according to the invention are arranged in tiers one above the other, wherein the rolling feed units face each other at both ends of the processing devices so that the product passes through the processing devices in the opposite direction.

This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of priority from PCT application PCT/EP2011/063065 filed Jul. 29, 2011 and German Patent Application DE 10 2010 049 181.0 filed Oct. 21, 2010, the disclosure of each is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The invention concerns a method for producing a multifilament composite thread in a melt spinning process according to the preamble of claim 1, as well as a melt spinning device according to the preamble of claim 10.

BACKGROUND

With the production of synthetic yarns, said yarns are normally generated from a bundle of fine extruded filament strands. The filament strands combined within a filament bundle can then be pulled-off and drawn as a thread. In order to generate specific yarn effects, it is furthermore known to combine threads of this type to form a composite thread. The composite thread therefore consists of at least two filament bundles, each having numerous filament strands, which, after the pulling-off and drawing, are combined to form the composite thread.

Depending on which yarn effect is desired, the filaments of the filament bundle can, thereby, be produced from an identical polymer material having the same additives, wherein the yarn effect is substantially based on the different treatments of the filament bundle. In this manner, for example, composite threads can be generated with which the filaments exhibit different shrinking behaviors, in order, for example to obtain a type of crimping in further processing through the development of waves and loops.

The production of the filament bundle for a composite thread from a polymer material having different additives, such as different pigments, for example, is, however, also known. For this, the yarn effect in the composite thread is substantially established by the visual appearance. The treatment of the filament bundle for forming the composite thread in this case is the same for both filament bundles. In this manner, for example, carpet yarn is produced with mixed colors, which are obtained through the combining of different colored filament bundles.

Independently of the type of composite thread and its properties, it is, however, necessary to wet the filaments after extrusion and cooling in each production process, in order, on one hand, to combine the numerous fine filament strands within a filament bundle, and on the other hand, to generate an anti-static state, in order to be able to safely guide the filament bundle over guide elements and godets. Thus, from WO 2001/02633 there is a method for the production of a multifilament composite thread and a melt spinning device with which the application of the preparation to the filament bundle is carried out in numerous steps. For this, a preparation application to the filament bundle adjusted to the subsequent heat treatment is generated in the first wetting. After the heat treatment, which, in this case, is carried out by means of a pull-off godet, the preparation quantity lacking for an optimal further processing is applied in a second wetting. In each of the provided preparation stations, the filament bundle is wetted with a predetermined partial quantity of a preparation fluid.

The known methods and the known melt spinning devices, however, are based on the idea that each of the filament bundles is to be supplied to the composite threads with the same treatment. Without a heat treatment executed by the pull-off organ, then a corresponding, undesired over-wetting would occur.

It is therefore an objective of the invention to provide a method for the production of a multi-filament composite thread of the generic type as well as a melt spinning device of the generic type, with which a flexible wetting of the threads is possible, depending on the respective requirements of the melt spinning process. A further aim of the invention is to provide a method for the production of a multi-filament composite thread and a melt spinning device such that the wetting of the filament bundle can be used to the create a yarn effect in the composite thread.

This objective for the method is attained, in accordance with the invention, by passing the filament bundle through a first preparation station, either with a supplementary wetting or without a supplementary wetting.

The melt spinning device may include one or more preparation sites of a first preparation station that are designed such that they can be activated or deactivated for the application of a supplementary wetting of the filament bundles.

Advantageous further developments of the invention are defined by the properties and combinations of properties as described in the following specification.

The invention is based on the knowledge that the preparation application to a filament bundle can be advantageously used to influence the production of composite threads. In this manner, yarn characteristics and treatment sequences can be influenced to their advantage. There is the possibility of executing the preparation application to a filament bundle in a step in one of the preparation stations or in a plurality of steps in both preparation stations. One or all of the filament bundles can be pulled-off by the spinnerets in the dry state without supplementary wetting. The method according to the invention, as well as the melt spinning device according to the invention thus establish a high degree of flexibility, in order to be able to produce composite threads of all types.

According to an advantageous development of the method according to the invention, after the drawing, the filament bundles receive a main wetting in a second preparation station. In the main wetting, a preparation application is introduced to the filament bundle that is necessary for the further processing of the thread in a subsequent process following the spinning process. The quantity of preparation fluid that should first be used for subsequent processes can therefore, for the most part, be left out of the melt spinning process.

Depending on the type of yarn to be produced for the composite thread, the main wetting of the filament bundles after the drawing can be applied with identical or differing fluid applications to the filament bundles. In this manner, for example, composite threads, in which the yarn effect is substantially obtained by means of the polymer composition, can be obtained with filament bundles having preparation applications of equal amounts. For composite threads with which the filament bundles are to be used to create the yarn effects by means of different treatments, different fluid applications can be advantageously supplied to the filament bundles.

In order to prevent a spreading as a result of static charges in the pulled-off filament bundles in a dry state without a supplementary wetting, the method can be varied such that after the combining, the filament bundles, supplied without a supplementary wetting, are twisted during the pulling-off by means of an air treatment. In this manner, a swirl can be generated in the respective filament bundles, which ensures that the filaments within the filament bundles remain together.

Depending on the type of yarn and the yarn properties, the filament bundles can be combined in different manners to form the composite threads. In a first alternative, the filament bundles are combined by means of a swirling to form the composite threads. In this instance, a thorough mixing of the individual filament strands within the composite thread is obtained.

With the production of crimped composite threads, it is also particularly advantageous if the filament bundles are individually textured prior to the swirling. In this respect, it is possible to produce all of the typically known composite threads by means of a swirling.

Carpet yarns, also referred to as BCF yarns, can preferably be produced by means of a stuffer box texturing. For this, the filament bundles are combined by means of compression in a stuffer box and pulled-off to form the textured threads.

The method variation, in which all filament bundles receive supplementary wetting during the process start up, preferably from a manual guidance by means of a hand-held injector, is particularly advantageous for obtaining an optimized utilization of the preparation stations in each of the operational states occurring in a melt spinning procedure. As such, the pulling-off and removal of the filament bundles to a yarn waste container is ensured without interruption if an operator threads the filament bundles successively into the processing unit of the melt spinning device with a hand-held injector. By means of the supplementary wetting of the filament bundles, a low-friction input is thus possible, such that the suction force of a hand-held injector can generate the necessary thread tension for pulling-off the filament bundles.

All types of multifilament composite threads can be produced with the spin melt device according to the invention. The main wetting for applying the preparation fluid to the filament bundles is carried out in the preparation sites of the second preparation station, which is advantageously disposed downstream of the drawing device in the course of the thread. By this means, the quantities of preparation fluid, which are necessary for the respective method and for the further treatment of the respective filament bundle, can be applied to the filament bundles in a targeted manner.

According to an advantageous development of the melt spinning device according to the invention, the preparation sites of the first preparation station and/or the preparation sites of the second preparation station are designed such that they can be operated separately. In this manner, a high degree of flexibility is obtained for the selection of, and adjustment for, applying the supplementary and main wetting to the filament bundles.

The development of the melt spinning device according to the invention, in which a swirl nozzle unit having a plurality of swirl nozzle devices is disposed downstream in the course of the thread of the preparation sites of the first preparation station, is suited, in particular, for pulling-off and drawing one or all filament bundles in the dry state. The interconnection of the filaments within the filament bundles is ensured by a swirl.

In order to pull-off and draw, the pull-off devices and the drawing devices are preferably designed such that the adjacent godets in the thread course can be actuated in opposing directions in order to implement an S-guidance or a Z-guidance. In this manner, compact configurations with few protruding godets and short machine frames can be obtained.

The compacting device for combining the filament bundles to form the respective composite threads can be designed as swirling units or texturing units.

Alternatively, a combination of the units is also possible in which the filament bundles are textured prior to combining for the production of a BCF composite thread.

The methods according to the invention shall be explained in greater detail below based on an embodiment of the melt spinning device according to the invention, with reference to the attached figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows schematically, a front view of a first embodiment of the melt spinning device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows schematically, a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows schematically, a side view of an embodiment of a compacting device.

FIG. 4 shows schematically, a side view of another embodiment of a compacting device.

FIG. 5 shows schematically, a side view of another embodiment of the melt spinning device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A first embodiment of the melt spinning device according to the invention is shown from different perspectives in FIGS. 1 and 2. The embodiment can be seen, schematically, in a front view in FIG. 1, and in a side view in FIG. 2. To the extent that no comprehensive reference is made to one of the figures, the following description applies to both figures.

The first embodiment includes a spinning device 1, having a plurality of spinnerets 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 disposed adjacent to one another. The spinnerets 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 are connected via melt lines to spinning pumps, which are not shown. By this means, each of the spinnerets 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 are supplied with a pressurized primary melt, in order to extrude numerous filament strands from each spinneret. The spinnerets 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 include, for this purpose, a nozzle plate on their bottom surface having a plurality of nozzle holes. The extruded filament strands from each spinneret 2.1-2.3 form, in each case, a filament bundle 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3.

A cooling device 4 is provided beneath or downstream of the spinning device 1 and includes a cooling duct 4.1 and a blow chamber 4.2 bordering the cooling duct 4.1. A cooling air current entering the cooling duct 4.1 is generated via the blow chamber 4.2, for the purpose of cooling the filament strands.

A bundling device 5 is provided beneath or downstream of the cooling duct 4.1, which includes a collective thread guide 6.1-6.3 each of which is respectively centered on each spinneret 2.1-2.3. Thus, the collective thread guide 6.1 is dedicated to the spinneret 2.1, the collective thread guide 6.2 is dedicated to the spinneret 2.2, and the collective thread guide 6.3 is dedicated to the spinneret 2.3. The filament strands are combined to form the filament bundles 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 via each of the collective thread guides 6.1-6.3 of the bundling device 5.

A first preparation station 7.1 of a preparation device 7 is dedicated to the bundling device 5. In this embodiment, the preparation station 7.1 includes one preparation site 8.1, 8.2, and 8.3 per filament bundle, in which the allocated filament bundles 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3, selectively receive a supplementary wetting. In this embodiment, a dosage pump 9 is dedicated to the preparation sites 8.1, 8.2, and 8.3, which is connected to a tank 11. The dosage pump 9 can be controlled by means of the control device 10.

There is an adjacent chute 37 beneath or downstream the cooling duct 4.1 with a thread combing guide 12 disposed at the outlet end. The filament bundles 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 are combined inside the chute 37 at a treatment spacing by means of a spinning separation determined by the spacing of the spinnerets 2.1-2.3. For this, the filament bundles 3.1-3.3 are first brought together at the treatment spacing by means of the thread combing guide 12, such that the filament bundles 3.1-3.3 can be guided, parallel to one another, at a small spacing in the range of 3-8 mm.

At this point it should be noted that the bundling of the filament bundles can also take place directly beneath the chute 37. In this case, the first preparation station 7.1 would be disposed beneath the chute 37.

Between the preparation station 7.1 and the thread combing guide 12, a swirl nozzle 39.1, 39.2, and 39.3 of a swirl nozzle device 39 is dedicated in each case to one of the filament bundles 3.1-3.3. The swirl nozzles 39.1-39.3 each include a pressurized air connection for generating a twisting of the filament strands to the filament bundles 3.1-3.3. The swirl nozzles 39.1-39.3 can be controlled collectively or separately inside the swirl nozzle device 39.

A pull-off device 13 and a drawing device 14 are disposed beneath the chute 37, which are formed, collectively, by means of two godet pairs 15.1 and 15.2. Each of the godet pairs 15.1 and 15.2 includes two powered godets. The godets are driven by means of two separate electric motors, with opposing spins, such that the filament bundles 3.1-3.3 can be guided in an S-guide with a single wrapping for pulling-off and drawing. In this respect, rightward and leftward turning electric motors are used for powering the godets of the godet pairs 15.1 and 15.2. The godet sheaths of the godets in the godet pairs 15.1 and 15.2 are heated in order to draw out the filament bundles, particularly in the transitional region between the two godet pairs 15.1 and 15.2. For this, different speeds are set for the godets of the first godet pair 15.1 and the godets of the second godet pair 15.2.

The first godet pair 15.1 forms the pull-off device 13, and serves to pull-off the filament bundles 3.1-3.3. The second godet pair 15.2 forms the drawing device 14, and serves to draw out the filament bundles 3.1-3.3. In this respect, the second godet pair 15.2 is driven at one drawing speed, which is faster than the pull-off speed of the first godet pair 15.1.

A second preparation station 7.2 of the preparation device 7 is disposed beneath or downstream of the drawing device 14. The second preparation station 7.2 includes preparation sites 16.1, 16.2 and 16.3 lying directly adjacent to one another, and which are collectively supplied with a preparation fluid by means of a dosage pump 17. The preparation fluid is stored in a tank 19, which is connected to the dosage pump 17. The dosage pump 17 is coupled to a control device 18, such that the length of time for the preparation fluid in the preparation sites 16.1-16.3, resulting in a main wetting of the filament bundles 3.1-3.3, can be adjusted.

In the thread course, a compacting device 20 follows the preparation station 7.2. The compacting device 20 in this embodiment includes a swirling unit 21, in which the filament bundles 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 run collectively over an input thread guide 22, and are combined to form a composite thread 26 by means of an air treatment. Swirling units 21 of this type are generally known and are based on the idea that the filament bundles supplied into a thread channel swirl by means of a constant or pulsing airstream supplied thereto. As a result, a mixing of the filament strands occurs, such that the composite thread 26 is formed from a cohesive filament bundle.

The composite threads 25 are guided over the redirecting godet 23 to the winding device 24, and in a winding site 25 of the winding device, are wound to form a coil 31. The winding site 25 in the winding device 24 includes a redirecting roller 38, an oscillation device 27, and pressure roller 30 for this, in order to redirect the composite threads 26 to the surface of the coil 31. The coil 31 is retained on a powered spool shaft 28.1, which, together with a second spool shaft 28.2, is mounted on a spool gun 29 in a projecting manner.

Winding devices 24 of this type typically include a plurality of winding sites 25 adjacent to one another in order to simultaneously coil a plurality of spools on a long, projecting spool shaft 28.1. In this respect, it is possible to guide numerous composite threads next to one another on the godets disposed upstream on the winding device 24.

The embodiment according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is shown in an operational state in which a composite thread is generated from numerous extruded filament strands. For this, each of the spinnerets 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 is supplied with a pressurized melt flow. The melt flow of the spinnerets 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 can be provided by means of a shared melt source, or alternatively, generated by means of three separate melt sources. Depending on the design of the spinning device, it is possible to thus extrude filament strands having identical material properties from each of the spinnerets 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3, or to extrude filament strands having different material properties from each spinneret. Independently of whether all of the filament strands are extruded from the same material, or filament strands of different materials are extruded, the subsequent treatments are carried out according to the same design.

First, the filament strands pass through a cooling zone, formed by the cooling device 4, and particularly, by the cooling duct 4.1. The filament strands are cooled inside the cooling zone, such that the thermoplastic material of the filament strands solidifies. In the embodiment shown according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a so-called cross-current blowing is shown, by means of which a transversally oriented cooling current is directed toward the filament strands. Alternative methods are known in the prior art, which could also be used for cooling filament strands of this type. As such, so-called radial blowers are known, with both an airstream from outside flowing inward, or alternatively, flowing from inside outward through a group of filaments guided in an annular manner, as well as possible cooling systems for filament strands of this type.

The filament strands generated by the spinnerets 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 are combined to form a plurality of filament bundles 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 by means of the bundling devices 5 dedicated to the spinnerets 2.1-2.3. In this embodiment, the filament strands extruded from one of the spinnerets 2.1-2.3 are combined to form a filament bundle. Alternatively, there is the possibility that the filament strands generated by one of the spinnerets 2.1-2.3 are separated to form a plurality of filament bundles. As such, it is known from the prior art to separate the filament strands generated by a spinneret into two filament bundles.

With the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the filament bundles 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 are generated by corresponding collective thread guides 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3. The collective thread guides 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3 form a first point of convergence with the spinnerets 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3, and are preferably mounted at the center of the spinnerets such that the outer filament strands receive a substantially identical deflection for forming the filament bundles.

The first preparation station 7.1 of the preparation device is disposed directly beneath or downstream of the bundling device 5. The preparation station 7.1 contains controllable preparation sites 8.1, 8.2, and 8.3, in which a supplementary wetting of the filament bundles 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 can be selectively generated. In this embodiment, the preparation sites 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3 can be controlled collectively as a group, such that the adjustment of the supplementary wetting occurs substantially via the control of the dosage pump 9 and the control device 10. As such, the dosage pump 9 can be activated or deactivated by means of the control device 10, such that, depending on the operational state of the dosage pump 9, a preparation fluid contained in the tank 11 can be supplied to the preparation sites 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3.

With the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the filament bundles 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 are provided with a supplementary wetting only at the beginning of a process start-up. As is shown in FIG. 2, it is normal that at the process start-up after the spinning, the filament bundles are taken up by means of a hand-held injector 32 and continuously pulled-off by the spinnerets by means of a suction air current, and then guided to a yarn container. The hand-held injector 23 is normally operated manually by an operator in order to thread the filament bundles into the godets and processing units, so that the production process can be started. In this phase, it must be ensured that tangling and snagging of the filaments is prevented during the taking up by means of the hand-held injector 32. During the creation phase, the dosage pump 9 is thus activated via the control device 10, such that the filament bundles 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 are continuously supplied via the preparation sites 8.1, 8.2, and 8.3 with a preparation quantity in the form of a supplementary wetting substantially adjusted to the amount being produced. As soon as the creation phase has been completed, the dosage pump 9 is deactivated by means of the control device 10, and no supplementary wetting of the filament bundles 3.1-3.3 is provided in the preparation sites 8.1-8.3. The filament bundles 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 pass through the preparation station 7.2 or a supplementary wetting, and are pulled-off from the spinnerets 2.1-2.3 in a substantially dry state.

In order to ensure a secure thread course when entering the pull-off device 13 and the drawing device 14, a swirl is generated on each of the filament bundles 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3. The twisting of the filament bundles 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 is obtained by means of the swirl nozzles 39.1, 39.2, and 39.3 of the swirl nozzle unit 39, in which a transversally oriented airstream is generated for twisting the filament bundle. The pulling-off and drawing of the filament bundles 3.1-3.3 occurs via the godet pairs 15.1 and 15.2 of the pull-off device 13 and the drawing device 14. The godets of the godet pairs 15.1 and 15.2 are preferably provided with heated godet sheaths. Because the filament strands are not wetted, the thermoplastic materials of the filaments can be very quickly heated to a drawing temperature, such that even with single wrappings on the godets of the godet pairs 15.1 and 15. 2, a large degree of drawing of the filament bundles 3.1-3.3 can be obtained. The filament bundles 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 are guided, therefore, in S-shaped and Z-shaped paths on the circumference of the godets.

Following the drawing, the filament bundles 3.1-3.3 are wetted in a second preparation station 7.2 of the preparation device 7. The preparation station 7.2 includes, for this purpose, three adjacent preparation sites 16.1, 16.2, and 16.3, in which each of the filament bundles 3.1-3.3 receives a main wetting. For this, the preparation quantity of the preparation fluid is substantially adjusted to the further treatments in the production process and in following processes. The preparation sites 16.1-16.3 are collectively supplied as a group with a preparation fluid, for which a dosage pump 17 is connected to the preparation sites 16.1-16.3. The dosage pump 17 is coupled to a control device 18, by means of which the quantity of preparation fluid in the preparation sites 16.1-16.3 can be substantially adjusted. The preparation fluid is taken from a tank 19, which is connected to the dosage pump 17.

After the main wetting, the filament bundles 3.1-3.3 are combined to form the composite threads 26 by means of the compacting device 20. In the depicted embodiment of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the combining of the filament bundles 3.1-3.3 occurs by means of an air treatment via a swirling unit 21. At this point, the filament bundles 3.1-3.3 collectively pass through a thread treatment channel and are treated by means of an airstream in such a manner that the filament strands of the filament bundles 3.1-3.3 are mixed with one another. In this manner, a multifilament composite thread 26 is obtained.

The composite thread 26 is pulled-off via the redirecting godet 23 from the compacting device 20, and guided to the winding site 25 of the winding device 24. For this, the redirecting godet 23 is preferably disposed in relation to the winding device 24 such that a substantially horizontal guidance to the winding site 25 is provided. In this manner, even with a plurality of winding sites inside the winding device 24, it is possible to prevent larger deflections. Alternatively, it is possible to execute the guidance of the threads to the winding sites from a godet disposed such that it is centered on the winding device.

The embodiment according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is therefore particularly suited for producing a fully drawn composite thread. The number of filament bundles combined to form the composite thread is likewise exemplary. As such, it is possible to combine two, three, four, or even more filament bundles to form a composite thread.

A preferred use of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is to produce crimped composite threads. For this, the compacting device 20 can be designed such that a crimped composite thread is obtained. One alternative design of the compacting device 20 is schematically shown in FIG. 3 for this, in a depiction as it could be implemented in the embodiment according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. For producing a crimped composite thread, the compacting device 20 includes a texturing unit 33, disposed above or upstream of a cooling drum 35. The texturing unit 33 consists of a nozzle part and a compression part, wherein the filament bundles 3.1-3.3 are transported collectively via the nozzle part into the compression part. The filament bundles 3.1-3.3 are compressed with the help of a heated delivery medium to form a thread plug 34 by means of the texturing unit 33. The thread plug 34 is subsequently deposited on the circumference of a powered cooling drum 35. After the cooling of the thread plug 34 on the circumference of the cooling drum 35, the thread plug is broken down to form the composite thread 26, and taken up via the pull-off godet 36. A swirling unit 21 is provided between the pull-off godet 26 and the redirecting godet 23, in order to increase the cohesion of the crimped filaments of the composite thread 26. For this, the speeds of the pull-off godet 36 and the redirecting godet 23 are configured to one another such that the filament strands of the composite thread 26 can relax.

The compacting device 20 depicted in FIG. 3 is therefore particularly suited for the production of a carpet yarn, e.g., a tricolor composite thread, using the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. In this case, a differently colored polymer melt is supplied to each of the spinnerets 2.1-2.3, which are extruded to form the filament bundles 3.1-3.3. The further sequence and the further treatments would then be substantially identical to the depicted and described embodiments.

For the production of carpet yarns, which are also referred to as BCF yarns, another alternative design of the compacting device 20 is depicted in FIG. 4. This embodiment differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 3 in that the filament bundles 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 are textured separately by means of three adjacently disposed texturing units 33.1, 33.2, and 33.3. The thread plugs 34.1-34.3 generated by means of the texturing units 33.1-33.3 are cooled on the circumference of the cooling drum 35 and subsequently pulled-off via the pull-off godet 36 as crimped partial threads 40.1, 40.2, and 40.3. The partial threads 40.1, 40.2, and 40.3 are collectively sent to the swirling unit 21, and combined to form the composite thread 26. The crimped composite thread 26 is subsequently sent to the winding device via the redirecting godet 23. In this respect, the embodiment of the compacting device 20 depicted in FIG. 4 represents another alternative for the combining of the filament bundles 3.1-3.3.

With the embodiment of the compacting device 20 according to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the melt spinning devices according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 can also be alternatively operated such that the second preparation station 7.2 is disposed downstream of the compacting device 20 in the thread course, such that the composite thread receives one of the preparation applications forming the main wetting.

The previously described embodiments are all based on the idea that the extruded filament bundles are treated as a group in the same manner in the individual treatment steps of preparation, pulling-off, and drawing, until they are combined to form the composite thread. It is, however, also possible for the yarn effect in the composite thread to be generated by means of different treatments of the filament bundles. An embodiment of this type of the melt spinning device is schematically shown in a side view in FIG. 5.

The embodiment according to FIG. 5 includes a spinning device 1 having two spinnerets 2.1 and 2.2, a cooling device 4, a bundling device 5 and a first preparation station 7.1 of the preparation device 7, having a plurality of preparation sites 8.1 and 8.2. For this, the preparation sites 8.1 and 8.2, however, can be controlled and activated independently of one another. A dosage pump 9.1 and 9.2, as well as a tank 11.1 and 11.2, each containing a preparation fluid, are dedicated, respectively, to each of the preparation sites 8.1 and 8.2. The dosage pumps 9.1 and 9.2 are controlled via the control devices 10.1 and 10.2 independently of one another.

Two pull-off devices 13.1 and 13.2, as well as two drawing devices 14.1 and 14.2 are disposed beneath the first preparation station 7.1. The pull-off device 13.1 and the drawing device 14.1 are dedicated to the spinneret 2.1, and the pull-off device 13.2 and the drawing device 14.2 are dedicated to the spinneret 2.2. The pull-off device 13.1 is formed with a powered godet, which acts together with a downstream powered godet of the drawing device 14.1 in order to pull-off and draw the filament bundle 3.1 extruded by means of the spinneret 2.1. In contrast, the pull-off device 13.2 and the drawing device 14.2 are designed identically to the embodiment according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, such that here, reference is made to the description above. For this, the filament bundle 3.2 generated by means of the spinneret 2.2 is pulled-off and drawn by means of two godet pairs 15.1 and 15.2.

A collecting godet 41 is dedicated to the drawing devices 14.1 and 14.2, onto the circumference of which both filament bundles 3.1 and 3.2 can be guided. A second preparation station 7.2 is disposed beneath the collecting godet 41, which includes a preparation site 16.1 and 16.2 for each filament bundle 3.1 and 3.2. The preparation sites 16.1 and 16.2 are collectively connected to a dosage pump 17 and a tank 19. The dosage pump 17 is electrically connected to the control device 18.

The compacting device 20 and the winding device 24 are disposed beneath or downstream of the preparation station 7.2, which in this case is designed identically to the embodiment according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, such that at this point, reference is made to the description above.

With the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, the filament strands extruded by means of the spinnerets 2.1 and 2.2 are combined separately, in each case, to form a filament bundle 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, and pulled-off and drawn independently of one another. For this, the filaments of the filament bundle 3.1 receive a supplementary wetting in the preparation site 8.1. For this, the dosage pump 9.1 is activated via the control device 10.1, and delivers a preparation fluid to the preparation site 8.1.

In contrast to this, the filament strands extruded by means of the spinneret 2.2 are combined in the filament bundle 3.2 without a supplementary wetting. In this case, the preparation site 8.2 is not active, and the filament bundle 3.2 passes the preparation station 7.1 without a supplementary wetting. Only in the case of a process start-up is the preparation site 8.2 activated as previously explained in reference to the embodiments according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

The cohesion of the filament strands in the filament bundle 3.2 is obtained by means of a twisting of the filament strands, which is generated by means of a swirling nozzle 39.1. The swirling nozzle 39.1 is dedicated to the preparation station 7.1 here.

The pull-off devices 13.1 and 13.2, as well as the drawing devices 14.1 and 14.2, are created in such a manner that the filament strands of the filament bundle 3.1 are partially drawn, and the filament strands of the filament bundle 3.2 are fully drawn. As a result, different physical properties are obtained, which take effect, in particular, in a subsequent heat treatment.

Prior to the combining of the two filament bundles 3.1 and 3.2, the bundles are provided with a main wetting in the second preparation station 7.2. The preparation sites 16.1 and 16.2 are connected as a single group to the dosage pump 17 for this.

Alternatively, there is the possibility that the preparation sites 16.1 and 16.2 are controlled and supplied independently of one another. As such, an alternative design for the preparation station 7.2 is depicted with a broken line in FIG. 5. For this, the filament bundles 3.1 and 3.2 are prepared individually with a main wetting, individually of one another in the preparation sites 16.1 and 16.2.

The combining of the filament bundles 3.1 and 3.2, and the winding of the composite thread 26 occurs in a manner analogous to that of the embodiment according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, such that at this point, reference is made to the description above.

The embodiment of the melt spinning device according to the invention depicted in FIG. 5 is particularly suited for making use of the method according to the invention for the production of a composite thread, in which the yarn effects of the composite thread results from different treatments. As such, it is advantageously therefore possible to produce so-called BSY yarns, with which the filament strands of the composite thread exhibit different shrinkage tendencies, which can be triggered in a heat treatment, and result in loops and waves in the composite thread.

In order to obtain particularly strongly differing shrinkage tendencies in the filament strands, there is also the possibility of separating the spinnerets 2.1 and 2.2 in the spinning device, and to dispose them in separate spin dies. Likewise, the cooling device 4 can be developed such that the filament bundles 3.1 and 3.2 are cooled by means of differently generated cooling airstreams.

The method according to the invention and the melt spinning device according to the invention therefore provide a high degree of flexibility in the production of different types of composite threads. Important for this is that the thread wettings that are to be applied in the preparation stations to the respective filament bundles are designed such that they can be controlled or activated. In this manner it is possible, on one hand, to carry out a wetting adjusted to the respective treatment, and on the other hand, to generate additional effects in the formation of the composite thread.

List of Reference Symbols  1 spinning device 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 spinneret 3.1, 3.2 filament bundle  4 cooling device   4.1 cooling duct   4.2 blow chamber  5 bundling device 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 collective thread guide  7 preparation device 7.1, 7.2 preparation station 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 preparation site 9, 9.1, 9.2 dosage pump 10, 10.1, 10.2 control device 11, 11.1, 11.2 tank 12 thread combing guide 13, 13.1, 13.2 pull-off device 14, 14.1, 14.2 drawing device 15.1, 15.2 godet pair 16.1, 16.2, 16.3 preparation site 17, 17.1, 17.2 dosage pump 18, 18.1, 18.2 control device 19, 19.1, 19.2 tank 20 compacting device 21 swirling unit 22 input thread guide 23 redirecting godet 24 winding device 25 winding site 26 composite thread 27 oscillation device 28.1, 28.2 spool shaft 29 spool gun 30 pressure roller 31 spool 32 hand-held injector 33, 33.1, 33.2, texturing unit 33.3 34 thread plug 35 cooling drum 36 pull-off godet 37 chute 38 redirecting roller 39, 39.1, 39.2, swirl nozzle device 39.3 40.1, 40.2, 40.3 partial thread 41 collecting godet 

1. A method for the production of a multifilament composite thread in a melt spinning process comprising; extruding numerous of filament strands with a plurality of spinnerets; pulling off the filament strands from the spinnerets and dividing the filament strands into a plurality of filament bundles; drawing the filament bundles and combining the filament bundles to form the composite thread, wherein the filament bundles pass through a plurality of preparation stations for wetting after cooling such that the filament bundles pass through a first preparation station with or without, selectively, a supplementary wetting.
 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the filament bundles receive a main wetting in a second preparation station after the drawing.
 3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the main wetting of the filament bundle is applied with the same or different fluid applications to each of the filament bundles.
 4. The method according to claim 1 wherein after the dividing of the filament strands, the filament bundles, without a supplementary wetting are twisted by means of an air treatment during the pulling-off.
 5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the filament bundles are drawn individually or collectively adjacent to one another with an S-guidance or Z-guidance through a plurality of godets.
 6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the filament bundles are combined by means of a swirling to form the composite thread.
 7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the filament bundles are individually textured prior to the swirling.
 8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the filament bundles are combined by means of a texturing to form the composite thread.
 9. The method according to claim 1 wherein each of the filament bundles receives a supplementary wetting in the first preparation station, in a process start-up.
 10. A melt spinning device for extruding numerous filaments for the production of a multifilament composite thread comprising: a bundling device for separating the filaments into a plurality of filament bundles; a pull-off device adjacent a drawing device; a compacting device; and, a preparation device that includes a plurality of preparation stations, wherein each preparation station includes a preparation site for each filament bundle, such that each preparation site of a first preparation station is configured such that it can be selectively activated or deactivated for applying a supplementary wetting to each filament bundle.
 11. The melt spinning device according to claim 10 wherein preparation sites of a second preparation station are disposed downstream of the drawing device for applying a main wetting to the filament bundles.
 12. The melt spinning device according to claim 10 wherein the preparation sites of the first preparation station and/or the preparation sites of the second preparation station are configured such that they can be controlled separately.
 13. The melt spinning device according to claim 10 wherein the preparation sites of the first preparation station are disposed downstream of a swirling nozzle unit having a plurality of swirl nozzles.
 14. The melt spinning device according to claim 10 wherein the pull-off device and the drawing device include a plurality of godets, wherein godets adjacent to one another in a thread course are configured to be driven in opposite directions to implement an S-guide or a Z-guide.
 15. The melt spinning device according to claim 10 wherein the compacting device includes at least one swirling unit through which the filament bundles are combined to form the composite thread.
 16. The melt spinning device according to claim 15 wherein a plurality of texturing units are disposed upstream of the compacting device to individually texture the filament bundles.
 17. The melt spinning device according to claim 10 wherein the compacting device includes at least one texturing unit to combine the filament bundles and form the composite thread by means of the texturing. 